Photo By Elaine Heirigs | Rear Adm. Guido F. Valdes, Capt. Romeo Tizon, Jr., Capt. Aaron D. Werbel and Lt. Cmdr....... read more read more
From Navy Hospital Corpsman to Commanding Officer, Capt. Romeo T. Tizon, Jr. turned over command of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Lemoore (NMRTCL) to Capt. Aaron D. Werbel, in a ceremony held on Sept. 8, 2023, at the Naval Air Station Lemoore chapel.
Tizon, a native of the Philippines, served as commanding officer of NMRTC Lemoore, and was duel hatted as the director, Naval Health Clinic Lemoore (NHCL) from June 2021.
“My journey started in October 1984 as a 20-year-old seaman recruit and first-generation immigrant wearing bell-bottom dungarees while mopping the boot camp galley floors in San Diego,” reminisced Tizon. “After graduating from Hospital Corps School, I stood my clinical duty rotations in the open-bay wards of the old Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, caring for veterans of the Vietnam War. I knew then I was a part of the greatest Navy in the world. This was my one shot at the American dream…only in America this is possible!”
Throughout Tizon’s two years in command, the clinic achieved many accomplishments including: receiving a full, three-year accreditation from The Joint Commission, an agency that evaluates healthcare facilities, the 2021 Navy Medicine Radiology Team Of The Year Award, the Defense Health Agency's Information Technology Professional and Information Technology Team Award, the Surgeon General's Blue H Award in health promotions excellence, the College Of American Pathologists certification, the Food And Drug Administration certification and the Navy’s Golden Anchor Retention Excellence Award.
During Tizon’s tenure, his greatest source of pride came from witnessing the team’s triumphs. 115 Sailors advanced to the next higher rank, six were frocked Chief Petty Officers and four Sailors were commissioned as Naval officers.
“We vaccinated over 18,000 military, family members and civilian employees at Lemoore, Monterey and Fallon,” said Tizon. “All while attaining a 94% operational medical readiness for both strike fighter wings and four carrier air groups aboard our Naval Air Stations. This is one of the highest readiness in all Naval air forces.”
Rear Adm. Guido F. Valdes, commander Naval Medical Forces Pacific was the presiding officer and provided remarks.
“Captain Tizon has performed exceptionally with grace and poise under his leadership at this medical facility,” Valdes said. “He has achieved unprecedented success facing numerous challenges head on and demonstrating unwavering dedication and a commitment to excellence. I am confident you will continue to significantly impact the health and readiness of our military just as you have done here at Lemoore.”
Tizon will report to the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington D.C. as the chief of staff.
“The command may change, the faces may change, but the spirit of this institution remains the same – steadfast, resilient, and committed to excellence,” said Tizon. “Always remember that the strength of our organization lies in its ability to evolve, adapt, and to better itself constantly in the face of unprecedented changes in the Military Health System. As I relinquish command today, I do so knowing this institution is in great capable hands.”
Werbel, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan is a U.S. Navy medical service officer who has a doctorate in clinic psychology. His previous command was Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Twentynine Palms, California where he was the executive officer.
“I can already tell, in my short few days aboard and walking around the clinics that I am going to be inspired by working with you,” Werbel said. “My initial interactions made it clear that your commitment to a higher cause is a driving force in the success of our mission.”
“Some of you raised your hand and put on the uniform of the United States, you committed to defend this nation against all enemies foreign and domestic. Others signed an agreement with the Navy or the Defense Health Agency as federal government employees, still others come to work in our clinic as contracted employees. You all have dedicated yourselves to safe, reliable, quality health care and medical readiness for our warriors and their families,” Werbel added.
Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Lemoore is co-located with Naval Health Clinic Lemoore to ensure the readiness of its active-duty service members and improve the lives of military families through the delivery of high-quality healthcare to over 18,000 eligible beneficiaries at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California and NAS Fallon, Nevada. The command also provides dental care and medical administrative support to Navy, Marine Corps, and international students at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Defense Language Institute and the Center for Information Dominance in Monterey, California. The command’s mission is to advance the readiness and health of our warfighters and beneficiaries and invest in our people and partnerships.
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 09.21.2023 15:57 |
| Story ID: | 453980 |
| Location: | LEMOORE, CA, US |
| Hometown: | ANN ARBOR, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 353 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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